The church in the Bible is not a building, nor is it limited to a time. The people themselves who believe and follow Jesus Christ are the church… 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. We strive to be the kind of church that would maintain its vitality if we were suddenly deprived of our property.
We emphasize FAITH, FAMILY, and FELLOWSHIP above all else and we accept the responsibility to tell others, near and far, by our words and actions, that Jesus Christ is the only hope of the world.
Rev. Matt Merendino was called to serve Clear Fork Alliance Church in August of 1993. His primary area of ministry has been with our youth and started to serve as our lead pastor in January 2021. He graduated from Toccoa Falls College in 1992 and was ordained in the Fall of 1997. Matt and his wife Missie were married in 1992 and they have 4 children.
Dr. Michael Stine was called to serve Clear Fork Alliance Church in March 1984. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 1974 and received his Master of Divinity degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in 1978. In June of 1984, he was awarded his doctoral degree, also from Ashland. Pastor Mike switched from our lead pastor to associate pastor in January 2021.
Pastor Mike married Patricia Maglott of Bellville in 1975. The Stines have three daughters; all three are married. They have seven lovely grandkids.
Clear Fork Alliance Church was organized on September 9, 1979. The first service was held in the basement of the First Buckeye Bank in Bellville, with 63 in attendance. On December 12, 1979, the church purchased five acres of land across from the Clear Fork High School, the present location of the church. Construction of the present building was begun in June of 1980, and the first complete worship service was held on February 22, 1981. A Christian Education addition was built in 1989.
The Family Outreach Center was erected in the summer of 1995, and more than doubled the area of our facilities. The Outreach Center features a multi-purpose gymnasium, as well as a youth room and kitchen.
1. There is one God,(1) who is infinitely perfect,(2) existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.(3) ([1] Deuteronomy 6:4, [2] Matthew 5:48, [3] Matthew 28:19)
2. Jesus Christ is the true God and the true man.(4) He was conceived by the Holy…
How We Started
The Alliance movement began in the 1880s when our founder, Dr. A.B. Simpson, witnessed the physical and spiritual plight of New York City’s homeless, downtrodden, and marginalized populations.
Moved by his great love for Jesus and lost people, Simpson devoted his life to sharing Jesus’ light—in word and deed—with the city and, ultimately, the nations.
